Jarhead takes place in the Gulf War primarily. On August 2, 1990, Kuwait was invaded by Iraqi forces led by Saddam Hussein. The United Nations authorized American intervention in Saudi Arabia which led to what became known as "Operation Desert Shield," which Anthony Swofford was initially a part of. The main objective of this mission was to protect the American oil sources in Saudi Arabia which were housing Kuwati leader Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad as-Sabah and he established his government there. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney went to Saudi Arabia and made it possible for U.S. troops to be on Saudi soil for the first time. It was the first major diplomatic and military conflict in the United States since the Vietnam War.
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